When a disaster strikes, as people work to maintain their physical health, they also often find themselves under considerable emotional strain. With the current pandemic also imposing additional stress from the forced isolation and severing of direct social contact, the additional stress imposed by the isolation that the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concern about the short and long-term impacts on mental health in affected populations.
While studies have shown populations affected by natural disasters have mental health problems at a rate double to triple that of the general population, research has also been done toward how to reduce this effect, with a key item being access to reliable and helpful information. To that measure, the WHO has offered the recommendation to seek information from trusted sources.
Concerns also exist with respect to people declining to seek assistance or treatment because of concerns about being stigmatized, whether from the mental or physical effects of the pandemic. Noted WHO officials, “Since the emergence of COVID-19, we have seen instances of public stigmatization among specific populations, and the rise of harmful stereotypes.”
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